September 12, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) -- Small businesses and non-profit organizations in
Burke, Columbia and Richmond counties in east Georgia are eligible
for Small Business Administration loans as a result of hailstorms
May 11-20.

Frank Skaggs, an SBA field operations director, said Friday that
the three counties are eligible because they are adjacent to
primary counties in South Carolina named in a disaster declaration.

The agency's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available
to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most
private, non-profit organizations that suffered financial losses.
Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to the SBA.

Loans of up to $2 million may be available at 4 percent interest
with terms up to 30 years.

On the Web: www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)